The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study

Abstract Background In light of the observed association between nutritional factors and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in recent decades, the present study was conducted to investigate the association between the consumption of various types of meat and PCOS in Iranian women. Material and methods...

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Main Authors: Mina Darand, Moloud Ghorbani, Akram Ghadiri-Anari, Vahid Arabi, Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03695-2
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author Mina Darand
Moloud Ghorbani
Akram Ghadiri-Anari
Vahid Arabi
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
author_facet Mina Darand
Moloud Ghorbani
Akram Ghadiri-Anari
Vahid Arabi
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
author_sort Mina Darand
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In light of the observed association between nutritional factors and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in recent decades, the present study was conducted to investigate the association between the consumption of various types of meat and PCOS in Iranian women. Material and methods This frequency-matched case–control study included 108 women with newly diagnosed PCOS and 108 age and body-mass-index-matched women without PCOS, as a control group, who were referred to the Yazd Diabetes Clinic and Khatam Clinic between January 2018 and March 2019. The validated 178-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary intake. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between meat consumption and PCOS. Results The findings of this study showed, the individuals in the third tertile of red meat intake, had higher odds of PCOS in the crude model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.29; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 2.13–8.64; P-value = 0.001) compared with those in the first tertile. These results remained significant after adjustments for energy intake, marital status, physical activity, education, pregnancy history and chronic disease history (OR = 3.87; 95% CI, 1.78–8.40; P-value = 0.001). Higher consumption of red meat increased the risk of PCOS by 3.87 times. Furthermore, higher consumption of processed meats increased the risk of PCOS by 2.15 times (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.05–4.39; P-value and trend = 0.035). We did not find an association between other types of meat consumption and PCOS. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that a higher consumption of red and processed meat is associated with a higher risk of PCOS, whereas no significant correlation was found between the consumption of poultry, fish, and organ meat and PCOS. However, more studies are needed to support these findings in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-862b2640e3be4f4ab0f4f0950cc7ca6b2025-08-20T03:18:42ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-04-0125111010.1186/s12905-025-03695-2The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control studyMina Darand0Moloud Ghorbani1Akram Ghadiri-Anari2Vahid Arabi3Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh4Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesDiabetes Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background In light of the observed association between nutritional factors and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in recent decades, the present study was conducted to investigate the association between the consumption of various types of meat and PCOS in Iranian women. Material and methods This frequency-matched case–control study included 108 women with newly diagnosed PCOS and 108 age and body-mass-index-matched women without PCOS, as a control group, who were referred to the Yazd Diabetes Clinic and Khatam Clinic between January 2018 and March 2019. The validated 178-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary intake. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between meat consumption and PCOS. Results The findings of this study showed, the individuals in the third tertile of red meat intake, had higher odds of PCOS in the crude model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.29; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 2.13–8.64; P-value = 0.001) compared with those in the first tertile. These results remained significant after adjustments for energy intake, marital status, physical activity, education, pregnancy history and chronic disease history (OR = 3.87; 95% CI, 1.78–8.40; P-value = 0.001). Higher consumption of red meat increased the risk of PCOS by 3.87 times. Furthermore, higher consumption of processed meats increased the risk of PCOS by 2.15 times (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.05–4.39; P-value and trend = 0.035). We did not find an association between other types of meat consumption and PCOS. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that a higher consumption of red and processed meat is associated with a higher risk of PCOS, whereas no significant correlation was found between the consumption of poultry, fish, and organ meat and PCOS. However, more studies are needed to support these findings in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03695-2Polycystic ovary syndromeRed meat consumptionWhite meat consumptionProcessed meats consumption
spellingShingle Mina Darand
Moloud Ghorbani
Akram Ghadiri-Anari
Vahid Arabi
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
BMC Women's Health
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Red meat consumption
White meat consumption
Processed meats consumption
title The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
title_full The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
title_fullStr The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
title_full_unstemmed The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
title_short The association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women: a case–control study
title_sort association between meat consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome in iranian women a case control study
topic Polycystic ovary syndrome
Red meat consumption
White meat consumption
Processed meats consumption
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03695-2
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